Half lap for combs



Nov. 16, 1926.

. c. B.- WEBSTER HALF LAP FOR COMES Filed July 28, 1924 Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

UNITED STAT oHARLEs CB. wEBs'rER, or FALL RIVER, ivrass orinsnrrs, hssieNo To'J'AMEs K.

' LANNIN'G, OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

HALF LAP EoR cams Jipplication filed Ju1y 28, i524 Serial lid. 728,563.

combing out the short staple lint in the preparation of textile fibres for the manufacture of yarn, and is intended to provide a simpler "and reliable construction for effectively performing the combing operation illustrated a simple and convenient form of construction and arrangement embodying the 'pri'ricipl'es'ofthi's invention, in which while facilitating the assemblage and replacement of the individual combbars.

Heretofore it has been the practice to 'use half-laps in which a number of separate bars, attached to the base member of the half-lap, were each provided with needlecarrying bars, the comb bars being held in -place usually"b y screws inserted through the bo dy of the base from the inside outwardly into engagement with the threaded holes formed on the inside faces of-tlie comb,

bars, space being left between the bars for the intervening needle bars which carry the rows of needles that perform the combing operation as the'half-l'ap; is revolved. This construction and arrangement results in leaving cracksor interstices, of greateror less size, in which the lint rapidly 'accumup base member or body 2, of general arcuate lates as it is not effectively removed by the clearing brushes, and in consequence "the combing'operation is more or less imperfectly performed.

The present invention is characterized by a base member whose outer surface is cylin-' 'drically curved from front to rear, and

' having abutmentsor ledges located at its "front and rear "edge portions b tWeen whieh abutments a series of combbars is secured by means of a detachable connect on which permits the comb bars to be applied one armthe other, means being provided for plied or, in other words, so that the adjacent 'edge'slof tWo adjacent cornb-barsfajre located at different radialjdistances from the of revolution of'the half-lap in order'to comb-engaging and attaching ly keepthe needles' clear crime. j

These'and other features of the invention iallo'w theclearing brushes to, moreeffective- Will be more particularlyexplained in the following specification and 'will be defined in the "claims hereto annexed. v v

In the accompanying drawings 1 have Figure l is "an endelevation of myfimproVed'half-lap'as applied tothe supporting shaft which is shown in section. r V

Figure 2 1s a longitudinal'sectionthrough the half lap on the irregular "plane indicated by section line Figure 1.

. Figure 3 is a detail view showing, rear elevatio n, the wedge member which'th'e separate eomb bars are tightly forced to- *gether and held in operative position for bmgy a f Figure 4 1s an endelevation of'ia portion of a.half lap 'showing a modified form of comb-bar "fastening means.

The half-lap herein shown comprises shape, comprising a segment of a cylinder with forward and rearward attaching extensions or flanges 3 through which are passed the attaching screws which'f'asten it to the rotary supporting shaft 1, by which it is re volved to bring the combing needles in contact with the'film'of fibres to be combed out. The base membenat its front end, is provided with a projecting ledge 6, and at its rear edge or si-dewith another somewhat similar abutment or ledge 5, which two ledges bound the circumferential surface to which the comb-bars are applied. f

The base 'member 2 is' also provided around its circumferential or outer face with members Twhich, in this case, are shown-as comprising {flanged i -shapedIribsQ arranged at the op- V *posite {ends of the base member, and an intermediate flange orrib 2* formed with an 'overhanging flange or. portion, and these attaching or tongues'formfso "to speak, ietainingjtracks on whichthe comb-bars are placed 'one'fa'fter' another somewhat after the fashiohofbeads on a p i a The "com A bars themselves compriselongitudinal bars 'fof thickness 'to fs'pace the rowsfof -need'les the required distance apart,

"and are formedr'ieartheir insideedges with Iii ill

transverse grooves or L-shaped cuts machined to exactly fit over the attaching members 2*, 2 with their bottom or inner edges resting against the peripheral face of the base member. A row of properly spaced and. gaged needles 8 is inserted in a longitudinal recess formed in the outer portion of, the front or side face of each bar so dimensionednasto exactly receive the needles and the attaching solder applied thereto in order that when thebars are assembled together, shown in Figure 1, there may be left no crack or space for the lodgelnent of lint; Furthermore, the peripheral or outer face of each bar is'sloped inwardly or cut away so that, in assembled position, the rear portion of its peripheral surface lies nearer to theaxis of rotation than its forward portion adjacent to the needles. This leaves the peripheral surface of each comb-bar, immediately in advance of each row of needles, inwardly offset in relation to the peripheral surface, thatis, immediately behind each row of needles, the object of such offset or recessing immediately in front "of each row ofneedles being to insure the more effective clearing away of thefllint by the clearing brush which, as is well'known in the art, is set to brush off the needles when the needles va-re revolving. through the lower part of their orbital course.

To insure the close arrangement or assemblageof the comb-bars and their maintenance in operative relation, while still rendering them detachable, I employ a wedge member 9 which is shaped to be inserted between the rearmost comb-bar7 and the rear abutment or ledge 5, which is integral with :thehalf-lap to receive the thrust of set s'crews10 which hold them in place. In ordcrto exert an inward thrust on this wedge or-fastening member the rear face thereof is notched to provide an inclined face 9 in position to be engaged by the set screws 10.

In Figure 4 I have shown a modified arrangement of the'fastening screw in which the wedge 11 is provided with counter-bored recesses'in its peripheral face to receive the head of attaching screws 12 which pass through the wedge-block, in an approximately radial direction, and may be tightened to draw the wedge in place by the thrust of the shoulder formed by the head instead of the thrust of the inner end of the set screw, as in the form shown in Figure 1.

lVhen the comb-bars are assembled in the manner above described, the half-lap presents the; appearance, viewed-from the out side, of a solid matrix with tightly inserted needle'bars. As the comb-bars diifersomewhat as to the gage and pitch or inclination of the needles each comb-bar may have its designating numeral'or letter to indicat'e its proper order ofarrangement in the series,

and in case of accident or injury to one or more comb-bars, the removal of the wedge permits the rearward bars of the series to be quickly withdrawn to permit the removal of the injured combsbar and the substitution of a. corresponding ,one in its place.

Moreover, when coarser needles are used on the forward comb-bars than on the rearward combbars, any slight variations in the thickness ofthe comb-bar structure, 111- cluding the needles, that results from this or from any other cause does n'otresult in leaving any crevice or crack for the lodgement of lint since the comb-bars are forced into closs contact. with one another irrespective of such variationsin lateral thickness. In any case, therefore, there is presented, in a properly assembled half-lap, an outer surface between the needles free from any cracks tending to hold the line lint-.

What I claim is: V

1. In a half-lap fora combing machine, the combination with a, base member pro vided with arcuate, retaining and guiding members, a series of comb-bars formed to have a circumferentiaily slidable retaining connection with said retaining and guiding members on said base, and means for forcing said comb-bars tightly against one another and retaining them in fixed operative relationship, substantially as described. I

2. A half-lap for a combing machine embracing in combination anarcuate base provided at its forward and rear edge portions with fixed abutments, a series of'com-b-bars having interlocking circumferentially slidable connection with the base member, and a wedge adapted to be interposed between the rearmost comb-bar and the wrearward abutment to force the'comb-bars into'firm engagement with one another and retain them in fixed operative relation, substantially as described. i

- 3. A half-lap for a combing machine embracing in combination a base memberprovided at opposite sides of its curved outerface with projecting abutments, a series of separate comb-bars formed; to be'secured to said base by an interlocking connection permitting one after another to be shifted circumferentially over the outer face of the base.

to its proper operative position, each combbar having that portion of its exterior face adjacent to its rear edge inwardly offset with relation to the level of theforward edge of the next following comb-bar to secure more effective cleaning out of the lint from the comb by the clearing brushes, substantially as described.

5. In a half-lap for combing fibres, the combination of a base member provided exteriorly with attaching means circumferentially curved to support the comb-bars, a.

circumferential series of longitudinal combbars mounted exteriorly on said base in interlocked engagement with said attaching means, and means for forcing said combbars into close lateral engagement one with another to avoid intervening crevices and for retaining them when so engaged upon said base, substantially as described.

6. In a half-lap for combing fibres, the combination of a circumferentially curved base adapted to be secured to a rotary shaft, a series of circumferentially arranged comb-bars rigidly secured to said base by attaching means which permits the combbars to be shifted circumferentially of the base until they are brought into close lateral contact one with another, whereby the absence of external crevices for the lodgement of lint is obtained, substantially as described.

ribs located exteriorly of said base member, a series of comb-bars transversely notched to form interlocking engagement-with said ribs, an anchoring member interposed between the rearmost comb-bar and the rearward ledge, and set screws having threaded engagement with said anchoring member to cause said anchoring member to force the comb-bars tightly together and hold them against displacement, substantially as de' scribed,

9. A half-lap for combing fibres embracing an arcuate base, a circumferentially disposed series of comb-bars each carrying a row of needles inserted in a longitudinal recess along one lateral face to lie flush with said face, and means for holding each combbar in close lateral, contact with the intervening rows of needles closely embraced be-- tween the adjacent faces of adjacent'bars to avoid leaving intervening cracks for the lodgement of lint, substantially as described.

10. A comb elementfor a half-lap embracing a longitudinal bar'having a transverse thickness enabling it to serve as a spacing member between successive rows of needles supported by it, and a row of transversely disposed needles secured along one side face of said bar with their tapered points projecting upward beyond the outside face of said bar, substantially as de scribed. I

11. A comb element for a half-lap embracing a longitudinal bar having a lateral recess extendinglengthwise thereof and'inwardly from its outer surface, a row of transversely disposed needles secured in said recess with the exposed faces of their butt portions flush with the adjacent exposed lateral face of the bar, said bar serving as a spacing element between the two rows of needles and being provided with transverse rib-receiving grooves and retaining ribs on the base of the half-lap arranged to form slidable interlocking engagement with said grooves, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above. specification.

CHARLES B. WEBSTER. 

